Sleeping and Dreaming

Flashcards covering key concepts and definitions from the chapter on sleeping and dreaming in psychology.

What is sleep characterized by?

Decreased response to stimuli, residing along a continuum of consciousness.

What regulates the daily waking and sleeping cycle in many animals?

Circadian Rhythms.

What is the body's primary circadian pacemaker?

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus.

What hormone does the pineal gland secrete when light levels are low?

Melatonin.

What stage of sleep is characterized by vivid hallucinations and muscle tone loss?

Stage 1.

What characterizes Stage 2 of sleep?

Theta waves and sleep spindles; accounts for about half of total sleep time.

What is known as slow wave sleep?

Stage 4, characterized by delta waves.

During which sleep stage do most dreams occur?

REM Sleep.

What is insomnia?

Persistent difficulty falling or staying asleep.

What is narcolepsy?

Extreme daytime sleepiness with frequent episodes of nodding off.

How much sleep do adults typically need?

7 to 9 hours.

What does the Restoration Theory of sleep propose?

Sleep has a vital restorative function; lack of sleep can lead to anxiety and diminished performance.

What is Freud's belief about dreams?

They allow for wish fulfillment and act out desires repressed during the day.

How can sleep deprivation affect memory?

It can lead to deficits in the hippocampus crucial for learning.

What should you avoid consuming late in the day to promote better sleep?

Caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine.